Implementing Online Dissolved Gas Analysis

Monitor DGA gas levels, rates, and ratios to get a complete picture of transformer or load tap changer (LTC) health.

There are a number of available options for monitoring transformer health. Our years of experience in Non-Dispersive Infrared (NDIR) and Photoacoustic Spectroscopy (PAS) technology with our Andros and Innova brands allowed us to evaluate the benefits of each technology for a DGA solution.

By consistently measuring the gas concentration or density, utilities can get an accurate picture of what is occurring in the transformer or LTC. Conventional manual methods of obtaining these gas samples and performing gas analysis are periodic and expensive. Real-time monitoring solutions are more proactive and lower cost in the long-term.

Want to learn more about our online SmartDGA solution?

Transformer Failure Happens More Often Than You Think!

Already in 2017, the United States has seen a number of transformer failures (explosions and fires). These include transformer fires in Castle Rock, CO (Feb 6th), Lawrence County, Ohio (Feb 9th), and Waikiki, Hawaii (Feb 12th) and numerous others!

According to our 2012 survey, about 68 % of electric utility companies manually obtain transformer oil samples to measure transformer health every six months to a year. These tests are too far apart to allow for condition-based maintenance and are, most often than not, unable to detect faults before they turn into failures.

While it would be ideal to implement instruments on the entire fleet, there are some transformers specifically in need of constant monitoring:

Transformers with a lifetime of 30+ years of age (as transformers age, the possibility of faults and failures increases)

Our Online Dissolved Gas Analysis Solution:

The NDIR-based SmartDGA instrument works in cycles to obtain a sample of oil, detect concentrations (in PPM) of key gases, and record values.

Data obtained from the SmartDGA instrument is then available for review and analysis in the SmartDGA Viewer software. On-site viewing is available via the optional iCore or a laptop computer. Connect the system to a network and view the results and any alerts from anywhere.

DGA Viewer software allows for a number of user configurations including sampling (from every 3 hours to 7 days), alert/alarm levels for gases and ratios, and setup of optional communications (IEC61850, DNP3, Modbus RTU, Modbus TCP/IP).

The complete solution includes the SmartDGA instrument with mounting hardware and 10 m connection cable, the SmartDGA EZHub™ unit to provide power and communications, and the DGA Viewer software for data viewing and analysis.